Dr. Ariella Herman Receives Health Literacy Champions Award

Recognized for her groundbreaking work with the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Institute (HCI)

By Paul Feinberg

UCLA Anderson's Dr. Ariella Herman has been awarded the first annual Health Literacy Innovation Champions Award by Health Literacy Innovations, creator of the Health Literacy Advisor, the nation's first interactive health literacy software tool. Dr. Herman was recognized for her groundbreaking work with the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Institute (HCI). Her work includes both the implementation of such life-changing programs as HCI's health literacy program and the Eat Healthy, Stay Active program aimed at reducing diabetes and obesity.

"I am extremely touched by this award, it represents the health care institute's ability to make a difference in the lives of families in underserved communities," said Dr. Herman. "I am grateful to be recognized for work that is so meaningful to me and that gives me so much hope for the future of our country."

On November 30, 2010, Dr. Herman will participate in a health literacy conference to be held on the UCLA Anderson campus. The event is co-sponsored by the Institute of Medicine Round Table on Health Literacy and the Johnson & Johnson Health Care Institute.

The workshop will include a presentation by Dr. Eugene Washington, Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences and Dean, UCLA School of Medicine, and include reports from various states on their efforts to improve health literacy in diverse regions in the US. The conversation will explore the role of the university as a leader in research in health literacy and in addressing workforce needs to meet the challenges of poor health literacy in our population. Creative community based solutions that are helping to make a difference in health literacy will be shared. Dr. Jonathan Fielding from the Los Angeles County Dept of Public Health will provide closing comments around public health perspectives on health literacy.